Concern over state of Roerich estate

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, OCT. 4. The International Roerich Centre in Moscow has launched a campaign to bring to Russia the remains of the famous Russian painter, Svetoslav Roerich, who died and was buried in Bangalore seven years ago.

In a letter to the Foreign Ministry, the Roerich Centre, headed by the former Russian Ambassador to India, Mr. Yuly Vorontsov, called for fulfilling Roerich's wish to be buried in St. Petersburg. The will could not be realised at the time of his death in January 1993, because of legal complications.

The Roerich Centre began efforts to bring the painter's remains to Russia following assurances from Indian authorities. During his visit to Russia in summer, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, said he did not envisage any problems in fulfilling Roerich's desire.

The initiative was also timed to coincide with the visit of the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, to India in the hope that it would draw attention to the pitiful state of Roerich's paintings and archives at his Bangalore estate.

On the eve of his trip to India, Mr. Putin confessed that his first association with India was linked to the name of Roerich's father and even more renowned painter, Nikolai Roerich, who also lived and died in India, depicting the majestic Himalayan mountains.

Nikolai Roerich's life was a marvel of creativity and an astonishing example of spiritual closeness that bound all people, Mr. Putin said in an interview to Indian media.

The Roerich estate was taken over by the Karnataka Government in 1996 for establishing an art-gallery-cum-museum, but, according to witnesses, its condition was deplorable as the legal battle for the property title was on.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Indo-Russian nuclear tie-up may raise eyebrows in
           U.S.
Next     : Sharif's plea rejected